Rail spike driving machine



July 16, 1957 c. K. JENSCH 2,799,230

RAIL SPIKE DRIVING MACHINE Filed July 6, 1954 4 shee ts-sheet 1 jnvenzar a a D g E 5y jivkerfi Carter 0 l/o o uua vuw 0a ugv July 16, 1957 c. K. JENscH 7 RAIL SPIKE DRIVING MACHINE Filed July 6, 1954 4 Sheets-Shet 2 I 12 are for Czyde fa. Jnsc I! Zorn eys July 16, 1957' c. K. JENSCH RAIL SPIKE DRIVING MACHINE Filed July 6, 1954 4 sheets-sheet 3 I7? yen for t'gde JLJnsc 4 5y jiv/Fr a? C'arier .lttornegs July 16, 1957 C. K. JENSCH RAIL. SPIKE DRIVING MACHINE Filed July 6, 1954 75 [A /11.??? g a l 3 76 Emu-.55. g i 9c 12 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 CZy e if. J'ensc/z United States Patent 2,799,230 RAIL SPIKE DRIVING MACHINE ApplicationJuly 6, 1954, Serial No. 441,545 Claims. Cl. 104-17 This invention is directed to -a new and improved spike driving machine for railroads. In the tie renewal operation for railway tracks, one of the more serious difiiculties encountered resides in what is known as hanging ties. This problem arises where the supporting ballast for the ties is at unequal height along a portion of the track with the result that certain ties support the rails and other ties'are spaced from the rails. When it is desired to spike the rails to these ties which are spaced from the rails some means must be provided to raise the tie and hold it snugly against the rail during the spike driving operation.

In conventional practice, these ties are pried up against the base of the rail during the spike driving operation. This requires a workman who usually uses a lining bar to pry up the tie, while another workman drives the spike. The hammering force exerted against the spike tends to jar the prying tool with the result that the tie tends to move away from the base of the rail as the spike driving hammer hits the spike. The practice requires approximately twice as much time for the spike driving operation as the time required in the case of a normally positioned tie. The present invention avoids this difficulty or problem residing in the case of hanging ties and does not require a workman to pry up the tie during the spike driving operation.

One purpose of the present invention is to provide an improved rail spike driving machine which accomplishes a three-fold purpose, namely: anchoring of the machine to the track structure during the spike driving operation, the exertion of what is, in etfect, a compressive action exerted on both a rail spike and the tie during the spike driving operation, and the maintenance of a co-linear thrust on the tie and the spike during the driving operation.

Another purpose of the present invention is the provision of an improved spike driving machine in which a tie gripping element or elements and a-spike driving element are actuated and positioned automatically.

Another purpose is the provision of an improved bydraulic spike driving mechanism.

Other purposes will appear from time to time in the course of the ensuing specification and claims.

Referring generally now to the drawings,

Figure 1 is a side view of a machine embodying the principles of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along the section lines 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged view Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a detail view in section of atypical spike driving and tie engaging assembly utilized in the invention;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 but illustrating another operative position of the elements shown in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail view of an of a sub-assembly shown in element shown in Figures 4 and 5;

Figure 7 is a bottom plan view of'the anvil 0r hammer shown in Figure 6;

2,799,230 Patented July 16, 1957 Referring specifically now -to the drawingsand in the first instance to Figure 1 ,-I illustrate a-railroad trackcomprised of the usual rails 1 and 2 positioned'on ties 3 which are, in turn, supported on the customary bed of ballast 4.

5 designates a machine frame supported on rail engaging wheels 6. The frame may be provided with its own system of propulsion, if desired, or it may be merely connected to a train of implements -for movement along the track.

Designatedgenerallyat and 8 are a plurality of spike driving assemblies. Each of these assemblies is positioned on the frameso it is generally directly above one of the track rails 1 or 2, there being an assembly at each side of the machine frame. Each of the assemblies isidentica-l in structure and operation and for this reason only one will be described in detail. Each assembly includes an outer cylinder 9, a plurality of tie engaging elements 9a and an anvil 9b. The tie engaging elements 9a are adapted to exert an upward thrust on the ties 3 while the anvil or hammer 9b is exerting a downward thrust on a spike. The tie engaging elements 9a and the anvil 9b are supported and actuated in'a predetermined relation as will be pointed out in ensuing portions of this specification. As will be seen best in Figure 3, the elements 9a have ofiset lower end-portions so as to extend on opposite sides of the rail. Their upper ends .are diametrically opposed with respect to the axis of the outer cylinder.

Each of the assemblies includes an outer cylinder 9 which is supported on trunnions 10 mounted onany suitable upstanding frame elements 11. The axis of the trunnions is transverse to the rails as will be .seen best in Figure 2.

An inner cylinder 12'is mounted within the cylinder 9. The inner cylinder includes a .pistonportion 13 at the upper end thereof and a reduced body portion 14. The wall 'of the body portion 14 is spaced from the inner wall of the outer cylinder so as to provide space for the passage of hydraulic fluid. -A conduit '15 is adapted to supply hydraulic fluid under pressure to the upper end of the outer cylinder :9, a'nd'thus-force the inner cylinder 12 downwardly. A second conduit 16 is adapted to admit fluid under pressure beneath 'the piston portion 13 and thus force the inner cylinder 12 upwardly.

Downward movement of the inner cylinder is limited by the engagement of'the portion 13 with the lower end 9c of the outer cylinden. Upward movement is limited by the engagement of a boss 1311 with the lower end 90. The lower limit of movement is designed so that, at this limit, the lower ends of the members 9a are positioned below the tie as will be seen in Figure 5 At-the upper limit, they are above the tie, as will be seen in Figure 4.

The lower end of the inner cylinder is-threaded as-at 17 and receives a supporting member 18 for the tie engaging elements 9a. The 'supporting'member 18 includes inwardly extending projections .19 and 20, upon which the tie engaging elements 9a are pivotally mounted by means of any suitable pivot pins or the like'21 and 22. A spring 23 and a spring 24 are positioned between the upper end of the elements 9a and the supporting member 18 above the pivots, 21 and 22 and serve to bias the elements 9a outwardly to aposition where their lower extremities are spaced apart a distance greater than the width of the usual tie. The elements 9a haveinwardly extendinghoo'k portions 25 and 26 which are adapted to be positioned beneath a "tie so that, if "the elements '92:

are moved upwardly when they are thus positioned, an upward thrust will be directed against the tie.

The anvil 9b is attached to the lower end of a piston 27 as by means of any suitable connection such as screw threads or the like indicated generally at 28. The piston 27 is received within the inner cylinder 12 and is adapted to be reciprocated by the pressure of hydraulic fluid selectively directed through a fixed tube 29 and a conduit 30. The tube 29 is positioned centrally of the outer cylinder 9 and extends through the piston portion 13 of the inner cylinder. The conduit 30 communicates with the interior of the inner cylinder through the lower end of the inner cylinder. The piston 27 includes a bore 31 at the upper end thereof. The wall of this bore is spaced from the tube so as to allow the passage of fluid from the lower end of the tube to the upper portion of the inner cylinder 12 behind the piston. The piston 27 has a reduced outer diameter intermediate the ends thereof as at 32 so as to allow hydraulic fluid delivered through the conduit 30 to bear against the upper portion 33 of the piston to ghereby move the piston upwardly within the inner cylin- Admitting fluid through the conduit 29 serves to force the piston and the anvil 9b downwardly, so as to drive a spike into the tie. Delivering fluid through the conduit 30 serves to force the piston 27 upwardly. As will be seen in Figure 4, the parts are so dimensioned and proportioned that the anvil or hammer 9b is positioned away from the tie a distance greater than the length of the usual spike when the piston is at its upper limit of movement. At its lower limit of movement, the hammer or anvil 9b will occupy a position where the lower surface of the anvil is generally aligned with the upper surface of the tie.

At its lower end portion, the piston 27 has a diameter smaller than that of the portion 32. This reduced portion of the piston terminates at its upper end in an inclined camming surface 34 which merges with the portion 32. The camming surface 34 is adapted to contact cooperating camming surfaces 35 and 36 which are formed on the upper ends of the tie engaging members 9a above the pivots 21 and 22. This reduced portion is made sufliciently small so that the springs 23 and 24 may bias the lower ends of the tie engaging members 9a to an outward position where they may straddle a tie. Whenever the piston 27 is moved downwardly relative to the inner cylinder 12, the camming surface 34 engages the surfaces 35 and 36 and forces the tie engaging members 9a inwardly. As will be seen in Figure 9, they are forced inwardly to a position where the hooks 25 and 26 are positioned beneath the tie and are held in that position when the piston 27 continues its downward movement.

The anvil 9b is generally U-shaped, as will be seen in Figure 6. It includes spaced legs 37 and 38 adapted to straddle the rail 1. The lower end faces of each of the legs 37 and 38 are dished out as at 39 and 40 to conform generally to the curvature of the rail spike heads 41 and 42. The dished out portions of the legs may continue throughout the length of the legs, as will be seen in Figure 7.

I preferably employ a hydraulic system for actuating the spike driving assembly. This system is shown diagrammatically in Figure 8. I may employ, for example, any suitable pump 40 which may be driven by an internal combustion engine. The pump 40 receives hydraulic fluid from a reservoir 41 through a conduit 42 and delivers fluid under pressure through a conduit 43 to a first valve 44 for controlling the flow of fluid to and from the inner cylinder 12, and a second valve 45 for controlling the flow of fluid to and from the outer cylinder 9. Any suitable conduit 46 may be connected to the valves for exhausting fluid to the reservoir 41.

The valves 44 and 45 are preferably four-way valves so that they may be set to deliver fluid to either end of their associated cylinders. They may take the form of rotary valves or sliding plunger valves. They may include foot actuated control levers or manually actuated control levers. No particular form of valve is critical and for this reason I have shown the valves 44 and 45 diagrammatically in the drawings. I wish it to be understood that the pump 40, reservoir 41 and valve assemblies 44 and 45 are preferably carried on the frame of the machine.

Whereas I have shown and described the preferred form of my invention it should be understood that numerous modifications, alterations, substitutions, and changes could be made without departing from the inventions fundamental theme. For example, if desired, a spring return could be provided for the inner cylinder in lieu of the hydraulic fluid admitted through the conduit 16. The description and illustration should be taken as diagrammatic or illustrative. The scope of the invention should be limited only by the scope of the hereinafter appended claims.

The use and operation of my invention are as follows:

The machine may be moved along the track rails to any position it is desired for use. The machine is positioned on the rails so that the assemblies are positioned generally centrally of a tie. At this position the anvil carried by the assembly is positioned for the spike driving operation. The operator then actuates-the valve 45 to admit fluid behind the inner cylinder 12. This forces the inner cylinder, piston and tie engaging members 9a downwardly to a position where the hammer 9b is spaced from the ties. With this same movement the tie engaging members 9a are forced downwardly and are positioned outwardly of the tie, as will be seen in Figure 5.

A rail spike is positioned between the tie and the hammer. It may have its pointed end inserted through the customary aperture in the tie plate and started into a drilled hole in the tie. The operator then actuates the valve 44 to admit fluid through the tube 29 and behind the piston 27. As a result of this fluid pressure the piston starts its downward movement and the camming portion 34 on the piston rod engages the cooperative camming portions 35 and 36 on the members 9a to force the members 9a inwardly to a position where the hooked portions 25 and 26 are disposed beneath the tie. Valve 45 is then reversed to force the inner cylinder and hooks upwardly to a position where they snugly engage the tie. In the case of a hanging tie, the tie is actually lifted in'to snug engagement with the base of the rail. Further upward movement is precluded by the rail. Fluid is then again delivered through the conduit 29 and as the movement of the piston 27 continues, the anvil engages the head of the spikes and the spikes are driven home. At the same time that the fluid pressure behind the piston 27 forces the hammer 9b downwardly, the fluid pressure will be exerting an upward thrust on the inner cylinder 12, thus tending to pull the tie upwardly and bringing about what is, in effect, a compressive force between the tie and the spike. The tie, tie engaging members, inner cylinder, outer cylinder, and frame are at that time what is, in effect, a unitary structure receiving the reactive thrust of the anvil 9b.

After the spike is driven home, the valve 44 is reversed to thereby raise the piston 27 to a point where the springs 23 and 24 are effective to force the tie engaging members 9a outwardly to the position shown in Figure 2.

With the hooks free from the tie, the fluid through the conduit 16 forces the inner cylinder and piston 27 carried thereby upwardly to the position where the tie engaging members are clear of the ties. The machine is then ready for movement along the rails to the next spike driving position.

Due to the particular disposition of the fluid pressure means for the hammer and the tie engaging mechanism, the thrust of both of these mechanisms is co-axial thus eliminating, to a large extent, any tendency of the hammer to drive a spike into the tie at an angle to the perpendicular.

The pivotal mount for the assemblies provides a dual function. It allows the assemblies to be swung upwardly to clear a switch or other obstruction. It also provides movement of the frame relative to the assemblies, thereby tending to move the axis of the trunnions and assemblies to a position centrally of a tie when the hooks exert an upward thrust against the tie.

I claim:

1. A railway spike driving supported rails, including a frame movable along the rails of a track, and a spike driving assembly carried by said frame over one rail of said track, said assembly including a reciprocal spike anvil, a hydraulic ram and cylinder for forcing said anvil downwardly, said assembly also including a plurality of tie engaging members movably mounted on said cylinder, said members being adapted for movement between a first position where they are spaced to straddle a tie and a second position wherein said members are effective to grip a tie therebetween, and cooperating means between said piston and said members for moving said members between said two positions.

2. The structure of claim 1 characterized by and including resilient means for forcing said members outwardly.

3. A rail spike driving machine for use with tie supported rails, including a frame movable along the rails of a track, and a spike driving assembly carried by said frame over one rail of said track, said assembly including an outer cylinder and an inner cylinder movably mounted therein, a plurality of generally elongated tie engaging hooks movably mounted on said inner cylinder, means for machine for use with tie admitting fluid to said outer cylinder to thereby force said inner cylinder and hooks downwardly sufficiently to dispose the lower ends of said hooks beneath a tie, stop means for limiting movement of said inner cylinder to said position, a piston movably mounted in said inner cylinder and means for admitting fluid to said second cylinder to force said piston downwardly, a spike engaging anvil carried by said piston for forcing a spike positioned between said tie and said anvil into said tie, and means for moving said hooks inwardly toward one another prior to the engagement of said anvil with said spike.

4. The structure of claim 3 characterized by and including cooperating camming surfaces carried by said piston and said hooks, said surfaces being operable to move said hooks inwardly subsequent to the start of the downward movement of said piston.

5. The structure of claim 3 characterized by and including co-operating camming surfaces on said piston and said hooks for forcing said hooks inwardly, and resilient means for forcing said hooks outwardly when said camming surfaces are out of engagement with one another.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 421,908 Close Feb. 25, 1890 434,529 Sorenson Aug. 19, 1890 721,856 Bender Mar. 3, 1903 936,679 Spandau Oct. 12, 1909 993,869 Peasley May 30, 1911 1,321,909 Hastings Nov. 18, 1919 2,591,005 Piper Apr. 1, 1952 2,596,823 Richardson May 13, 1952 

